Everything You Need to Know About the Endocannabinoid System

Have you ever wondered why smoking weed makes you feel different than your friends? You can thank the unique workings of the endocannabinoid system for that.

Although it was discovered in the 1990s by scientists, the endocannabinoid has always been a bit of a mystery when compared to other body systems.

In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the endocannabinoid system, including how it works, what body functions it controls, and how cannabis affects it.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a metabolic body system composed of chemical signals and receptors that act as a bridge between the body and mind.

It performs complex actions within the nervous system, the immune system, and all of the body’s organs. The body cannot be in a state of complete and total health if the endocannabinoid system is not functioning properly.

The endocannabinoid system is activated by cannabinoids that are either created naturally within the body (known as endocannabinoids) as well as the ones that are found in cannabis (known as phytocannabinoids).

Here’s a tip for remembering the difference between these compounds: “endo” refers to internal compounds while “phyto” refers to plant compounds.

Endocannabinoid receptors are located all over the body. The brain is primarily composed of CB1 receptors that control the activity levels of neurotransmitters, which influence things like body temperature, appetite, concentration levels, mood, and hunger.

CB2 receptors are primarily located within our immune tissues. Their job is to control inflammation and regulate the immune response.

Because the majority of our immune cells reside in the gut, CB2 receptors are also responsible for influencing intestinal inflammation, contractions, regularity, and pain or other symptoms associated with IBD.

How Does The Endocannabinoid System Work?

To understand how the endocannabinoid system works, let’s take a look at an example of someone who has fallen and is in pain. When you fall and hit the ground, you feel immediate pain.

However, after you fall, the nervous system sends out enzymes that interrupt the pain signal so that you stop feeling pain a few minutes after falling. These enzymes work by creating endocannabinoids that help regulate the pain response.

 

The two main types of endocannabinoids produced are:

1. Anandamide: this compound is known as the ‘bliss molecule’ because it regulates the reward response, mood, and emotions. Low levels are linked to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

2. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (also known as 2-AG): this compound is primarily responsible for regulating inflammation. It plays a large role in boosting immune health, controlling the pain response, and regulating mood, memory, and sleep.

The endocannabinoid system is in charge of regulating many responses as well as influencing the development (or prevention) of some diseases.

Essentially, it’s in charge of maintaining homeostasis within the body, meaning that it oversees a variety of processes to ensure everything is working in harmony.

Nervous system support

The autonomic nervous system has two main parts: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic nervous system is what controls the “flight or fight” response while the parasympathetic system functions within the digestion and sleep aspects of our health.

The entire automatic system helps regulate digestion, heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, body heat, and pupil dilation.

Research shows that when there are problems within the CB1 receptors, it causes problems with learning, memory, pain, addiction, reward, neuroinflammation, degeneration, metabolism, food intake, bone mass, and more.

Problems with CB2 receptors have been linked to chronic pain, alcohol and nicotine addiction, stress, autoimmune conditions, and more.

Sleep Cycle

Sleep cycles are regulated by the body’s internal clock, which is also known as circadian rhythms. Research shows that activation of the CB1 receptors may help promote sleep.

Immune response

The endocannabinoid system has both an inhibitory and a stimulatory effect on the immune system. This is ideal for those with autoimmune conditions because it helps tame the overactive response that is responsible for activating the disease.

Research shows that activating the endocannabinoid system may help relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, asthma, HIV, and even cancer.

Pain signals

The endocannabinoid system helps intercept pain signals that the body sends to the brain, which can help reduce symptoms of chronic pain. It’s also responsible for regulating inflammatory responses that may contribute to pain.

Body temperature

With the help of the sympathetic nervous system, the body maintains a normal core temperature that responds to factors such as heart rate and blood pressure, allowing the body to maintain internal balance.

Sometimes, your core temperature increases when you are fighting an infection. Cannabinoids – such as THC – have been shown to reduce body temperature when you are sick.

How Does Cannabis Affect the Endocannabinoid System?

Although the body naturally produces cannabinoids, using cannabis is an excellent way to provide the endocannabinoid system with the compounds it needs to stay properly regulated.

Considering that there are thousands of cannabis strains and each contains its own unique cannabinoid profile, it’s hard to pinpoint how cannabis cannabinoids will affect the endocannabinoid system. The possibilities are endless, based on the ratios of receptors in the body and cannabinoid compounds in cannabis alone.

Most people find that using cannabis helps reduce general pain, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and mood disorders. However, you’ll need to try lots of different strains to determine which is the best combination for you.

And even when you find a strain that works, keep in mind that the effects it has on you may change, depending on your body’s unique chemistry and state of overall health.

Final Thoughts

The endocannabinoid system is a network of cells, organs, and chemical signals that influence a variety of body mechanisms, namely the nervous system, immune system, sleep, appetite, and pain response.

Research shows that impairments within the endocannabinoid system may lead to disease and unwanted symptoms.

Using marijuana is a good way to stimulate the endocannabinoid system and encourage the body to remain in homeostasis, but you may need to try a variety of marijuana strains to determine the best combination for you.

Have you noticed any of the above effects? Do you know anything about related biology? Please tell us about your experiences in the comments section below!

How Cannabis Moon Rocks Can Take You to Space

Moon rocks might look like the matcha-coated power balls that can be found at your local health shop but don’t be tempted to take a nibble, they don’t taste nearly as delicious as they look. These high-powered nuggets commonly referred to as cannabis caviar, will send you to space and lead to deep belly laughs. If you haven’t heard of this potent cannabis product then keep reading and find out what they are, how they’re made, where you can find them and how you could make them at home.

What are Moon Rocks?

These out-of-this-world rocks are made by taking a nugget of marijuana and coating it with either hash oil, or shatter and then rolling it in kief. The top kief layer resembles a pollen coating and contains not only a kick of cannabis but a high level of beneficial terpenes. Moon rocks are traditionally made with Girl Scout Cookies, the strain-not the biscuits sold door-to-door, but can be made with whatever type tickles your fancy.

When Did These Super Space Nuggets Hit the Scene?

Rumours are running through the mainstream that the infamous Starbudz760 dispensary is responsible for the creation of moonstones in the early ’90s. While this dispensary may be credited with the invention, West Coast rapper Kurupt is the one that popularized this product. Around the same time, he trademarked his own version, Kurupt Moonrock, which is credited for being extremely high quality and even won the High Times Cannabis Cup award.

Why Choose Moon Rocks?

Stoners may find that moon rocks are their first choice if they want to get the best bang for their buck. Having around 50% THC, compared to the usual 17-20% for plain bud, it’s Moon Rocks job to leave you blindingly high. While the nuggets are obviously more expensive than an untreated strain it will save you from having to spend much more on the flower, kief, and concentrate separately. Moon rocks aren’t just for hard-core stoners and have made their way into the world of medicine. A high dose of THC can provide relief to suffering patients who need higher doses to cope with their ailments.

Stimulates Appetite: Moon rocks work quickly and are known to intensify the feeling of endless hunger caused by the munchies. This can bring great relief to people undergoing radiation, and chemotherapy.

Reduces Anxiety: The right strain of cannabis can help people suffering from anxiety relax but to see longer-lasting effects, give moon rocks a try.

Relieves Chronic Pain: Moon rocks contain an extremely high level of THC, usually between 28-50%, providing more relief to people suffering from pain.

Pre-Roll or Nugget

So, you’ve decided that moon rocks are for you and you want to give them a go? Pre-rolls may be the easiest choice since there’s no extra preparation on your part. Just light up and smoke. Nuggets are a better choice if you want more bang for your buck and have glassware or a pipe that you can smoke it with. You can find a wide variety of ready-to-go Moon Rocks Pre-rolled Blunts and Moon Rocks at Puregreenexpress.com

Moonrock Pre-Rolled Blunts: Each Blunt is 1.2 grams. Contains Bud rolled in CO2 honey oil before they’re rolled in kief. Each separate Moon Rock flavour is made from a different type of cannabis and premium honey oil. Coated with strain-specific high-grade Keif.

Shop Moon Rock Pre Rolled Blunts Here

Moon Rocks: Consisting of a premium flower rolled in Co2 Honey oil and powdered with golden kief. Total: 1.1 GRAMS plus extra keif. Moonrock is easily one of the most powerful cannabis products on the planet. They have taken cannabis buds and kicked it into high gear by mixing it with oil and kief. This process leads the product to carry a 51 – 60 % THC rating.

Shop Moon Rocks Here

How To Consume These Sticky Cannabis Creations

Moon rocks aren’t as straightforward to smoke as normal flower so keep reading for some simple steps to take you out of this world.

1. Put your moon rock onto a rolling tray or another flat surface you don’t mind getting sticky. Use a blade to cut the powdered nugget into 4 or 5 pieces.
2. Use glassware like a bong or a pipe and pack a bowl of normal flower like any other day.
3. This is when you take a piece of your moon rock and place it on top of the bowl of flower.
4. Use a lighter to slowly burn the top of your moon rock until it sizzles and begins to melt. If it catches on fire, don’t worry, just blow it out.
5. Inhale. Exhale. Sink into a happy haze.

Feeling Creative? How To Make Moon Rocks at Home

If you’re looking for a fun, new project, or maybe you’re just trying to do something with all of that kief you’ve been saving then this guide is for you. Making them yourself gives you full control over the potency, oils, and strains of flower. Find all your favourite Oils and Flowers to do it yourself at Pure Green Express.

What You’re Going to Need:

–Whole Nuggets of Your Favourite Skunky Flower (These nuggets can’t be too dry or they’ll just fall apart).

–THC or CBD Concentrate Oil

-Kief (All those potent powder crystals that have been building up in your grinder)

-Butter Knife

-Silicone Gloves or Tongs

Instructions:

1. Take your first nugget and coat it with your chosen concentrated oil. This works best with a butter knife. If your chosen concentrate is too thick and is hard to spread across your flower then warm it up until it’s a better consistency. This can be done by running a lighter flame under your butter knife while the concentrates rest on top. If you smell anything burning- stop.
2. Take your oil-soaked bud and dunk it in the Kief until it resembles a powdered donut hole.
3. Repeat for all of your nuggets of flower and store them in an airtight container to enjoy later.

Choose Moon Rocks and enjoy your trip out of this world! If you have any insider tips on how to smoke moon rocks or have tried to make them let us know in the comments!

Weed Might Make You a Better Employee

Have you ever been discriminated against at work for being a cannabis user? If so, you might want to take it up with HR. Then, show your nay-sayers this article.

According to a recent study, cannabis users are not worse employees. In fact, weed has numerous benefits that might actually make you a better worker, as long as it’s used after work.

Read on to learn more about what the researchers said. We’ll also provide tips for using weed off the clock to help you become a better employee.

Cannabis Use Doesn’t Affect Work Performance

The stigma that all pot smokers are lazy stoners simply is not true. And with legalization rates increasing all over the world, it’s time we put this theory to rest.

A study published in the journal Group & Organization Management found that using cannabis before and during work negatively impacts tasks that are related to work performance and organizational skills. It may also provoke counterproductive work behaviours.

However, the same study found that using weed after work was NOT related to negative work performance rates as indicated by the user’s direct supervisor.

In other words, using weed on the clock may impact your ability to do your job, but using weed after hours does not.

In fact, the study authors noted that using pot after work may improve job performance because it aids in relaxation, which helps restore resources spent during the day.

The researchers noted that this helps employees wake up the next morning with more energy and the ability to devote themselves to their job once they get back on the clock again.

Key Study Findings

Data was collected from 281 employees and their direct supervisors. It looked at the relationship between five types of workplace performance measures and three pot use measures, including just before work, during work, and after work usage.

The average age of subjects surveyed was 36 with approximately 47% men, 53% women, and 65% white. Approximately 56% of subjects had a four-year college degree or master’s degree.

The employees were asked to discuss the following:

• How many times they used weed within two hours of a work shift
• How many times within the past year they had smoked while on the clock
• How many times within the past year they had used weed within two hours of clocking out

The supervisors were asked to discuss their employee’s work performance by using a seven-item measure. They were also asked to report their employee’s behaviour through a 14-item measure.

Results from these responses indicated that work performance was affected by two of the three measures: using weed right before work and while at work. Contrary to popular belief, using weed after work did not affect performance.

The study authors noted that more research needs to be done on the stress relieving effects of weed use after clocking out as numerous benefits are suspected.

Correcting The Stoner Stigma

Although cannabis use has exploded in popularity over the past decade, many employers still test job applications for cannabis use based on the assumption that using weed in one’s free time would negatively impact their work performance.

However, according to study author and professor at San Diego State University, Jeremy Bernerth, many workplaces have not updated their perception of cannabis users. He noted that many weed users today have four-year college degrees and do not fit the standard stigma of the typical person who uses cannabis.

Because of this, Bernerth suggests that employers who still use drug tests need to prove that there is a reason for their practices. Otherwise, it could open the door for legal misinterpretation.

When asked what he thought about the study’s results, Bernerth said he was not surprised. He noted that many stereotypes of weed users are based on society’s assumptions and not necessarily scientific evidence.

He concluded by saying that more research needs to be done on why weed does not harm your job performance overall. Does it work by helping the user relax after a hard day? Does it help them get a better night’s sleep so they wake up feeling ready to go? This seems to be the case, based on the findings of this study.

Bernerth noted that as a society, we need to avoid assuming that weed users will be bad at their jobs like previous generations have done.

Tips For Using Cannabis to Improve Job Performance

As the study suggested, there are ways to use cannabis to become a better worker as long as you’re using it after you clock out. Here are some tips you can use to get you there:

• Be sure to wait two hours after your shift ends before using weed (or at least until you’re off the job site)
• If you’re a night shift worker, then use weed to help you sleep during the day when it’s more difficult due to lighting
• Smoke a joint at night in place of alcohol to help you sleep after an especially tough day
• Use marijuana on weekends to help destress and unwind from a long week (for example, take a hike in the woods after smoking a joint)
• If your job requires you to stand all day, consider rubbing CBD oil into your legs and tired muscles to help recover
• Consider taking a CBD supplement for its anti-inflammatory and mood-boosting benefits to assist with job performance

For more information, check out our article on how to use weed to increase focus and productivity after hours here.

Final Thoughts

It’s time to end the negative stigma that using weed makes you an unattractive employee. The study mentioned in this article shows that weed does not impact your work performance when used after hours.

In fact, it may even help you recover, destress, and sleep better so you can emerge as a better employee (and person!) the next day. Be sure to wait until you’re off the clock and off the job site before using weed.

Have you found that weed has helped you deal with your busy work day? Do you like to light up when you get off work? Have you found it helps you get a better night’s sleep? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Why is BC Bud The Best?

Beautiful British Columbia is known for its stunning landscapes, mouth-watering wines, and iconic BC bud. It isn’t a secret that British Columbia is home to some of the best cannabis available today. It’s reached a level of infamy across the globe and can be found just about anywhere from Vietnam to Amsterdam. No other region can compare!

Never Been To British Columbia? Let Me Lay It Out For You

British Columbia is the temperate-weathered jewel located on the west coast of Canada, nestled in between the Pacific Ocean, and the Rocky Mountains. This rugged province spans across 357, 000 square miles of land, housing around 5.1 million people. What makes this sprawling area so perfect for growing crops is the vast amount of open, and forested, lush green space. To give this a little bit of context, British Columbia is about the same size as Germany but our population of 5.1 million is about 16 times less than their whopping 84 million.

It’s Not Just Quantity, It’s Quality

This beautiful open space is packed with ancient soils, rich in nutrients, and showered with heavy rainfall. Take one look at the luscious green that blankets this picturesque landscape and anyone could see how perfect it is for the growth of happy flora. This diverse plant life flourishes in the hot summer months and cool fall months that follow. Cannabis is no exception and the conditions make for tall, hardy plants indoors and outdoors. The Kootenays located in British Columbia is known as the home of outdoor marijuana cultivation due to the pure mountain water, and fresh air, while boasting of having the most fertile soil on the planet.

BC Bud Was Something You Sipped- Not Smoked

Today we associate BC bud with marijuana but in the 1930’s it was actually the name of a prohibition-era beer. Although this lager didn’t have any connection to cannabis it became such a popular moniker for something illicit that the name stuck and made its way into the mainstream.

Where It All Began

Peace-loving draft dodgers moved from the States to Canada during the Vietnam War rather than being forced to join the army brought their best seeds with them. Weed was such a massive part of the love culture that shaped the 1960’s that although these groovy greens weren’t legal at the time people took advantage of the lax attitudes of law enforcement. It’s estimated that about 30,000 Americans came flooding through the border from mainly Washington, Oregon, and California. At this time BC was just in the beginning stages of growing cannabis so this boost to supply created a golden era for the illegal industry. With an ideal climate for cultivating outstanding crops and the long lineage of incredible seeds that have been circulating for more than 30 years, it’s no wonder BC bud is world-renowned.

Saving Money on Power Bills

One thing that British Columbia is known for, besides its top-shelf cannabis, is the low cost of hydroelectric power. This energy sourced from rushing water generates almost three-quarters of all renewable energy and is expected to continue to grow in popularity. BC generates almost 11.000 megawatts of hydropower, powering nearly two million homes. This fresh-flowing, affordable power source gives cannabis enthusiasts the ability to grow indoors at a much lower cost.

Making It Into the Mainstream

With a record number of BC residents indulging in cannabis culture it is no surprise that it would make its way into the mainstream. Canada is known for its lax policies on marijuana but in British Columbia, this reaches new heights with 20% of the population claiming that they have recently gotten high.

Ahead of legalization, we also saw the interest in BC Bud translate into the financial sector where people have paid hundreds of millions of dollars in order to stake a claim on the province’s produce.

“BC now has the opportunity to legally showcase these genetics, products, and techniques into the national and international markets over the next few years,” he says. “Nationally, all legal entities will have equal access to technology and certain genetics, but nothing can replace experience, and in BC, we have some of the most experienced cultivators in the country. In time this will prove noteworthy as the market matures and advances.”

-Aaron Anderson, BC Bud enthusiast, and Vancouver Resident

The Future Is Looking Green

Despite the recent legalization of cannabis, there are still people who view these groovy green buds as controversial, taboo drugs. This is brought about by years of misinformation, the war on drugs, and our vast cultural diversity. With more research shedding light on the many benefits, public opinion does seem to be heading in a more accepting direction as time goes on. This is hugely due to the change in rhetoric as cannabis goes from an illegal drug that will harm the youth into a highly effective medicine and health supplement.

With this new knowledge, the industry is changing and evolving more quickly than we could have imagined leading to new growing methods. Unfortunately, strains that have been cultivated in North America are reaching a point where genetic variations are in decline and inbreeding is becoming inevitable. Many growers believed that the peak of cannabis potency happened back in the 90’s and are becoming worried that the genetic pool is becoming too small. This doesn’t mean that all hope is lost for the future of your green gold though! BC growers have begun to diversify their strains and are introducing new strains that are easy to find in this market. With more availability to craft suppliers that are beginning to make their way into the legal system the better our chances are of keeping our strains world-renown.

I don’t know about you- but I am excited to see how the cannabis industry continues to grow and thrive as time goes on! Let us know about your experience with BC bud and Pure Green Express in the comments.

Protect Your Skin With Cannabis Sunscreen

Sunscreen is paramount to overall skin health, especially in these sizzling, hot summer months. The sun can damage the skin but CBD can help protect against these harmful rays and then heal it when burnt. This natural skin protectant is the perfect addition to your sunny day beauty routine, I’ve even included a recipe on how to create your own!

What Causes Sunburn

Our bodies are equipped to deal with minor sunburns and are always working hard to repair damaged cells. When you take suntanning too far though the body can’t keep up. The cherryred burn we see is the body’s reaction to the UV rays that are supplied by the sun, triggering an anti-inflammatory response. As I’m sure everyone has experienced firsthand at some point in their lives, it can lead to days of pain, discomfort, and the dreaded reptilian skin peel. This is not only cosmetically jarring but can lead to long-term health effects.

The Benefit of Adding CBD to the Mix

1. Prevents skin damage

Prevention is always better than cure, this is where CBD-infused sunscreen comes into play. You shouldn’t wait until the damage has been done before turning to this natural skincare molecule. Using a skin protectant that contains CBD will prevent it from happening in the first place. A good SPF matched with the powerful anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of CBD is the best defense against mid-day sun rays. Make sure to keep reapplying often so that you’re shielded throughout the day.

2. Treats Burns

So, you forgot to put on sunscreen and now you’re looking a little rosy? Burns are uncomfortable, leaving skin inflamed but CBD can help with the healing process. This “bliss molecule” is a natural anti-inflammatory, working hard to soothe sunburnt skin by reducing redness and swelling. On top of this, it acts as an antibacterial agent and pain suppressant. This gives the added protection against painful bacterial infections that can lead to more severe issues while reducing fever and pain.

3. Protects Against Skin Cancer

The free radicals that emanate from the sun can lead to early aging, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. In severe cases, it can even lead to skin cancer. Antioxidants are your best friends when it comes to fighting this horrible skin disease because they soak up the extra, unwanted radicals that cause harm to the skin. You can get antioxidants from many different sources including kale, goji berries, raspberries, and CBD. This means that when applying any kind of CBD topical you are protecting your skin and even improving skin tone. Watch your complexion clear up and begin to glow with your improved CBD-infused skin routine.

What is SPF?

You know that you want a high SPF to protect your skin from all of the harmful rays that beam down on you, but what does that number on the bottle actually mean? SPF is short for sun protection factor and measures how well the sunscreen can protect you. If you have fair skin and burn within 10 minutes then an SPF of 15 will protect you from sunburn for around 150 minutes. Doctors recommend using at least an SPF of 30 no matter the skin type for basic protection. At the very least this will keep your skin healthy and guard it against premature signs of aging.

Tips For Buying Sunscreen

We love our beautiful oceans so it’s important to ensure the product you are purchasing is reef safe (or follow my fun, easy recipe to make it at home). Common UV filtering ingredients are harmful to reefs and lead to coral bleaching. Coral bleaching happens when all of the vibrant, colorful algae living inside of these ocean wonders leave. This leaves the coral bleached to a chalky white and leads to their imminent death. Protect these salty ecosystems and opt for safer, mineral-based sun protectants instead.

Make CBD Sunscreen At Home

This natural sun protectant will have a fairly low SPF without the zinc oxide so I strongly recommend adding it for full coverage and protection. First, I will take you through some of the best oils for creating your summer concoction.

Raspberry Seed Oil: This is your best oil option for sun protection as it naturally has a higher SPF of 30-50.

Carrot Seed Oil: This essential oil is also a great, natural sun protectant even at a lower SPF than raspberry seed oil of around 30.

Wheat Germ Oil: Nourishing wheat germ oil keeps skin soft and moisturized while providing an SPF of 20.

Sesame, Coconut, Avocado, Soybean, Peanut Oil: These are more common oils that are most likely already lying around the house. Any of them will work in this recipe but will provide very little sun protection with an SPF of only 4-10. If you go with one of these, definitely make sure to add the zinc component.

Ingredients:

• 1 Ounce Oil of Choice
• 100 mg CBD Oil
• 1 Ounce Beeswax
• 1 Ounce Shea Butter (You can choose another lotion but shea is the best option since it has a natural SPF of 6-10).
• 1 Tsp Vitamin E Oil
• 0.36 Ounces of Zinc Oxide (it’s reef safe!)
• Essential Oil (optional for a beautiful, aromatic experience, anywhere up to 30 drops should be sufficient).

Instructions:

1. In a double boiler melt your beeswax, shea butter, and SPF oil on low heat.
2. When everything is melted and combined, remove from heat and let cool slightly.
3. After having chilled, it’s time to add CBD oil, vitamin e oil, zinc oxide, and essential oils.
4. Stir, stir, stir until everything is mixed.
5. The sun cream is now complete and it’s time to be stored for future use. You can either put it into a container or an old push stick deodorant tube.
6. Allow your sun lotion to harden overnight on the counter.
7. Apply as needed and keep that beautiful skin of yours looking happy and healthy!

*SPF rating is dependent on the products used. Apply frequently and use with caution.

Do you swear by this natural sun protection secret or have tried out this recipe?

Let us know in the comments!

A Brief History of Magic Mushrooms

Humans and animals have been using magic mushrooms for thousands of years. Although they’re older than humankind, the earliest documented use was in North Africa in 10,000 B.C.E. Psychedelic mushrooms show up in carvings and statues all over the world after this time. Psilocybe mushrooms were used to help communicate with old gods, gain insight during spiritual ceremonies, and are thought to have helped in human evolution. Popularity grew in the ’70s as a way to unlock creative potential before “the war on drugs”. As more is becoming known about Psilocybin’s many benefits, the more popular interest is exploding.

What Is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is one of the main molecules in “magic mushrooms”, also commonly called “shrooms.” There are more than 100 different varieties of wild fungi around the world that contain this psilocybin. When Psilocybin is ingested it is turned into psilocin. The psilocin then interacts with serotonin levels in the body. It causes hallucinations and strange perceptions when taken in large doses. When taken in smaller doses it is known to boost mood and enhance creativity.

The First Users of Magic Mushrooms

The use of magic mushrooms pre-dates the birth of civilization around 6000 years ago. There are statues, rock paintings, and other representatives of what appears to mushroom from as far back as 10.000 B.C.E.

• North Africa: In Tassili, Algeria there are rock carvings that show evidence of the use of psilocybin in 4000-7000 B.C.E. that show evidence of the use of psilocybin. Figures show unusually large heads, missing limbs, and people floating around outside of their bodies. Some figures are holding mushrooms and others that have mushrooms growing from their bodies. Terrance McKenna, the writer of Food of The Gods, claims that our African ancestors used magic mushrooms for different ceremonies and to help with hunting.
• Ancient Greece: There is evidence that the ancient Greeks used a psychedelic brew made of mushrooms in ritualistic ceremonies. These ceremonial healing rituals were top secret, to expose the secret insights gained could mean the death penalty.
• Central America: Mayan and Aztec cultures called magic mushrooms teonanacatl which translates to “flesh of the gods”. It is believed that they used these sacred fungi to communicate with the gods during traditional ceremonies.
• Siberia: Indigenous tribes would drink hallucinogenic urine from reindeer that would eat Amanita Muscaria mushrooms. They are the most iconic red and white spotted caps that are local to that region.

Psilocybin and Evolution

Many people believe that magic mushrooms had an important role in human evolution. In the 1950s, R. Gordon Wasson traveled to Mexico and concluded that psychedelic mushrooms were responsible for our advancement in language and religion. He thinks that humans “ate their way to consciousness”. This would make sense as psilocybin mushrooms are resilient, and common on every inhabitable continent.

The Discovery of Psilocybin

• Robert Gordon Wasson was the first modern man to get people interested in magic mushrooms. After 1955 he traveled to Southern Mexico to participate in a psilocybin ritual held by a local tribe. In 1957 he published the very popular article, “Seeking The Magic Mushroom” where he shares his experiences. Unfortunately, the locals ended up regretting ever inviting him into their small community. His article opened a floodgate. The area became overrun with people looking to have a similar experience
• Wasson and his colleague, Roger Heim, then began identifying different psychedelic mushrooms.
• Albert Hoffman, A swiss Scientist, was the first person to synthesize psilocybin in 1958. He is maybe even more well-known as the inventor of LSD.
• Timothy Leary, psychologist, and Harvard professor became inspired by Wasson’s experience in Mexico and traveled there himself. He experienced a profound transformation and founded the Harvard Psilocybin Project. At the time shrooms were legal and he led a variety of different experiments.

Studies

In one experiment he gave prisoners psilocybin to see if it could be an effective psychotherapy aide. The results were incredible! Six months into the treatment the subject’s recidivism rate was 40% lower.

After this success, he became confident in these magical chemical healing qualities. He began to test it on his graduate students. Nearly every single student had profound spiritual experiences. They did a follow-up study on these students 25 years later and the results were positive. All of the students report that they experience long-term positive changes in their lives after the study.

-Thomas Leary

The “War on Drugs”

The use of psychedelic drugs boomed in the ’60s. When you think of that time the first thing that comes to mind is probably the hippie culture. Unfortunately, due to the stigma around psychedelics, they were unacceptable in mainstream society. Leary was fired from his position at Harvard in 1963. This was due to backlash from faculty and academics. They stopped all studies right away. Magic mushrooms were no longer seen as taboo but as dangerous. They were officially made illegal in October 1968. Nixon’s “war on drugs” in the ‘70s created the idea that all drugs were bad. Until the ’90s there was no new research. This is when interest in this magical fungus was reignited.

Psilocybin Today

Magic mushrooms have had an amazing comeback in recent years. New research has been replacing the old stigma around this natural psychedelic. This has helped them to become more mainstream. The first new psilocybin study was conducted in 1997. This led to a new surge in popular interest. This led to a resurgence of interest which led to many more studies. The FDA granted Compass Pathways to study the benefits of psilocybin on depression in 2018. One of the biggest things to happen was in 2019. John Hopkins opened a centre for Psychedelic and Consciousness research. They are currently studying the benefits of this natural chemical as a treatment for PTSD, Lyme disease, and alcohol dependency.

Leave a comment below to share your experiences with Magic Mushrooms!

Beat The Heat With These Cannabis-Infused Popsicles

 

As the summer quickly approaches and the weather warms it’s time to pull out our favourite frozen treats. Adding a little hit of cannabis to a popular childhood treat, ice pops, is the perfect way to keep the child in us alive. I have included some fruity popsicle recipes to cool you down as the heat of summer rolls in.

CBD or THC

THC and CBD are the main compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. Both have medicinal properties and can be used to treat a variety of different illnesses but unlike THC, CBD won’t impart the feeling of being “high”. Although it doesn’t have mind-altering effects it is still known as the “bliss molecule” and will leave you feeling calm and collected.

Why Ingest Cannabis?

There are many reasons why ingesting this green medicine can be beneficial over rolling up a joint to smoke.

• Saves your throat from harmful smoke: I, like many people, love to roll up a joint but cutting back the smoke could save respiratory health. Ingesting marijuana means not inhaling smoke and therefore doesn’t pose the same risks.
• More discreet to take: Smoking a joint or even a less smelly vape pen will still leave a scent and draw attention. This is useful in public spaces.
• More accessible to everyone: Unless you smoke inside of your home and don’t mind the scent that may linger then this is beneficial for people who have trouble with mobility.
• Sets in slower but lasts longer: It may take longer to feel the desired effects of the cannabis plant but when they do set in they’ll last for a much longer amount of time. This helps provide that long-lasting relief from symptoms.

Prepare Before Creating

In order to activate the medicinal and mind-altering effects of the cannabis plant, it needs to be heated and made into a milk, butter, or oil. These are some good starting recipes that you could use for these popsicle recipes or alternatively to boost any baking or cooking adventures. If you are not looking to achieve that mellow “high” feeling then simply substitute these THC-rich concoctions with CBD oil.

Cannabis Milk:

Ingredients

• 1/4 Ounce Cannabis
• 4 Cups of Whole Milk or Alternative Milk

Directions:

1. Start by decarboxylating your weed. This is easily done by heating up the cannabis to activate the THC and CBD in the green buds. Spread aluminum foil over an oven tray and spread the buds out evenly. Place in the oven at 240F for 40 minutes.
2. Let the cannabis cool and then chop it finely.
3. Fill a pot with your chosen milk and warm on low heat.
4. Add cannabis to the warming milk and let simmer on low heat for 60-90 minutes. Make sure the milk never boils.
5. Strain through milk cloth to get rid of any unwanted leaves and bits.
6. Let cool and you have some cannabis-infused milk for any cooking needs.

Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil:

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Cannabis Oil
• 1 Cup Ground Cannabis Flower (7-10g)

Directions:

1. Decarboxylate weed, see cannabis milk recipe above for instructions.
2. Grind weed finely and heat up coconut oil and cannabis in a double boiler or pot on low heat for 2-3 hours.
3. Strain the green bits out of the oil with cheesecloth. Be patient and don’t try to speed up the process by squeezing it out as it will add a more bitter and vegetal taste to the oil.
4. Store for all of your cooking needs.

Recipes

These are some of my favourite chilled sweet treat recipes but feel free to use this as a guideline and get as creative as you want! If you don’t have any popsicle molds and don’t have time to get to the shops or live in a small town where they aren’t easily accessible but you just can’t wait to get started, don’t worry. It may not be as nice to look at but there are alternative options if you’re in a pinch. Ice cube trays, small bowls, or paper cups with popsicle sticks will do the trick.

Strawberry and Cream Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups strawberries
• 2 tablespoons of sugar or maple syrup
• 7 ounces of coconut milk or cannabis milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cannabis-infused tincture if you didn’t opt to use the cannabis-infused milk

Directions:

1. Toss your strawberries in either a food processor or blender.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of chosen sweetener and puree.
3. In a separate bowl mix together milk, vanilla extract, and sugar. Add cannabis tincture if using.
4. Layer the strawberry puree and milk mixture in layers and freeze.

Tropical Heaven Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 2 mangos, chopped and peeled or frozen
• 2 cups of yogurt
• 3 tablespoons of cannabis-infused coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons of cream of coconut
• 3 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Add all of the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.
2. Pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours.

Peach Dreams Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of peach puree
• 1/2 cup of cannabis milk
• 2 tablespoons of sweetener or sugar
• 1 cup of greek yogurt
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of diced peaches

Directions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients except for the diced peaches and stir evenly.
2. Stir in the diced peaches and blend to create a thick puree.
3. Pour everything into popsicle molds and freeze.

Very Berry Lemonade Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of orange juice
• 1/2 cup of cannabis milk
• 1 cup of fresh or frozen berries
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of lemon zest
• 2-4 tablespoons of sweetener

Directions:

1. Blend all of your ingredients together into a puree.
2. Pour into Popsicle molds and freeze.

Have You Tried any of these delicious cannabis-infused frozen recipes before? Know any cool cannabis-sweets of your own? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

Pre-Rolls Are the New Friendly Way to Smoke Weed

If you haven’t noticed, the pandemic has made it somewhat difficult to smoke and share weed with friends. But that’s not stopping the most determined stoners.

Pre-rolled joint sales have skyrocketed since the pandemic began, and experts think it’s because of their safety and convenience.

So, if you’re hesitant to share a joint with a friend due to the possible spread of COVID-19, then consider adding pre-rolls to your weed-smoking regime.

Why Are Pre-Rolls So Popular Right Now?

Although pre-rolls are sometimes considered the fast food of the cannabis industry, it appears that many weed users are changing their minds. Pre-roll sales are booming – and that’s an understatement.

In fact, research shows that pre-roll sales are up 196.48% since the following year, and they held the top three cannabis product selling spots last summer. It appears that pre-rolls are gaining in popularity since sharing a joint is no longer an option, due to fear of spreading the coronavirus.

So, why else do pot smokers like pre-rolls? For starters, they come in singles or multipacks, they’re affordable, and you can easily pass them out to friends.

It’s a great way to smoke with friends. Not to mention, they are easy to use, store, and travel with.

1 – They Make it Easier to Socialize While Getting High

Pre-roll sales are a really great option as the weather gets warmer and more people are gathering together outdoors.

The sheer convenience of being able to pull out a pre-rolled joint, hand it to a friend, and smoke together while not puffing on the same joint is appealing to many who missed smoking with friends during mandatory quarantines.

The pandemic may have prevented us from being able to “puff, puff, pass,” but pre-rolls make it fun and easy to share weed in a pandemic-friendly manner.

2 – They are Easy to Use and Travel With

Pre-rolls are easy to use for those who don’t know how to roll their own weed yet. They are also popular among medical cannabis patients who may not have the dexterity to roll or grind their own weed as well as high-risk patients who cannot share a joint with someone else.

Plus, users can control how much weed they smoke at once by choosing a smaller or larger pre-rolled joint, depending on what their needs are at the moment.

Not to mention, you can travel with pre-rolled joints easier than flowers, whether it be in your car, office desk, or travel bag. Storing them is easy and many people find that it’s helpful to know you always have a joint ready to go for emergencies or when time is crunched.

3 – They Encourage Versatility

Individual pre-rolls are a great way to try out new strains of weed. However, many experienced pre-roll users will buy packs of 5 joints, instead of one or two, as this is a good way to stock up on strain you know and love.

Multi-packs are great for sharing with friends, too. Buying pre-rolls in packs of 5 and passing them out to friends is a good way to let them pick what they want.

Having said that, there is nothing wrong with stocking up on your favourite strain. If you’re a regular weed smoker, then they won’t go to waste and it’s better to have something easy on hand for when you want a quick buzz without the rolling or grinding!

Tips For Picking Out the Best Pre-Rolled Joints

The beauty of picking out a pre-rolled joint is that the work is already done for you. All you have to do is find a strain that compliments your mood and light up.

Pure Green Express carries a wide variety of pre-rolled joints in both singles and 5-packs. With so many strain options to choose from, there is something for everyone.

Here are the best pre-rolled joints to try right now:

1. Pre Rolled Joint – Hybrid

Approximately 1g of Premium Hybrid flower is pre-rolled for your convenience. Each is packaged in a Doob Tube for freshness.

Hybrid strains tend to fall somewhere in between the Indica-Sativa spectrum, depending on the traits they inherit from their parent strains.

Pure Green Express carries generic Hybrid pre-rolls but also some great strain-specific options as well.

Where to buy: Get it here.

2. Pre Rolled Joint – Indica

If you’re looking for a strain of weed to help you relax, alleviate stress, and sleep better at night, then try an Indica pre-rolled joint.

Indica strains are known for being physically sedating, perfect for enjoying a movie or as a nightcap before bed. Ideal for relaxing the body and the mind!

Pure Green Express carries generic Indica pre-rolls but also some great strain-specific options as well.

Where to buy: Get it here.

3. Pre Rolled Joint – Sativa

Approximately 1g of Premium Sativa flower is pre-rolled for your convenience and packaged in a Doob Tube for freshness.

Sativa strains typically provide more invigorating, uplifting cerebral effects that pair well with physical activity, social gatherings, and creative projects. Great for getting things done!

Pure Green Express carries generic Sativa pre-rolls but also some great strain-specific options as well.

Where to buy: Get it here.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve turned your nose up to pre-rolled joints in the past, then now is the time to expand your mind. Sales for pre-rolled joints have skyrocketed thanks to their versatility and convenience.

You might not want to share a joint anymore, but handing out a pack of your favourite pre-rolled joints is the next best way to stay connected to your friends and loved ones. Take a look at our entire pre-rolled joint section here for all available pre-rolled joint strains. Have questions? Feel free to contact the chat feature on the Pure Green Express website and one of our Enthusiastic Cannabis Experts will be more than happy to help!

Do you like pre-rolls? Let us know why in the comments below!

Six Far-Out Facts About Magic Mushrooms

Areas Magic Mushrooms first became popular in the ’70s during the hippie movement but have made a recent comeback into the mainstream. Silicone Valley has become notorious for its love of this psychedelic substance to enhance creativity and work performance. While everyone is familiar with this substance and knows that it can cause hallucinations and wild “trips” there may be some things that you didn’t know. Research into this magical substance has shed new light on its many medicinal uses and history.

1. There are More than 200 Species of “Magic Mushrooms.”

Most people know about the two common types of magic mushrooms but there are actually more than 200 species! These fungi may be so diverse because they didn’t inherit the psychedelic gene from common ancestors, it’s a defence mechanism to keep pests away. There are two main categories that these mushrooms can fall under.

Mushrooms that contain psilocybin: This is the biggest group with over 180 different types of species. This group contains the popular “liberty cap”, and “gold cap”.

Mushrooms that contain muscimol, and isotonic acid: This is a smaller group but has a rich history of uses in religion. This group includes the well-known Amanita Muscaria which is the only mushroom that is legal in most places.

2. “Shrooms” May Have Been The Inspiration for Santa

The back story of Santa may not be as innocent as you would think. In Siberia, where muscaria has been used for centuries, shamans used the fungi to commune with the spirit world. These Shamans would dry the mushrooms and give them as gifts on the winter solstice. On top of this, they would wear red suits with white spots to resemble the mushrooms which grew under evergreen trees. Reindeer in this region were the Shamans “spirit animals and are also known users of this magical substance. With all of these connections and the fact that the mushrooms could bring about hallucinations making it seem like the reindeer could fly, it all seems overwhelmingly likely.

3. Humans Have Been Taking This Magical Fungus For Millenia

Although psilocybin mushrooms gained popularity in the ’70s, the first documented use was in North Africa in 10,000 BCE. There are cave paintings from all over the world that depict mushrooms. In Siberia, South America, Central America, and Africa there are depictions ranging over time. Many people believe that magic mushrooms had an important role in human evolution. In the 1950s, R. Gordon Wasson traveled to Mexico and concluded that psychedelic mushrooms were responsible for our advancement in language and religion. He thinks that humans “ate their way to consciousness”. This would make sense as psilocybe mushrooms are resilient, and common on every inhabitable continent. The Aztecs were even known to call them “flesh of the gods”.

4. Taking Psilocybin Enhances Creativity

Magic mushrooms affect the body and brain in different ways depending on the dosage that you take. It causes a feeling of relaxation and enhances creative thinking. This could be perfect for anyone in any walk of life that would like to improve their ability to think outside of the box. They affect the brain’s frontal cortex, which is responsible for abstract thinking, and thought analysis. They also play an important role in mood and perception. It can help you expand your mind and break out of old patterns of thought. Microdosing can bring a whole new perspective into your life. Taking smaller, micro-doses, of magic mushrooms induces a state of free thought that leads to new, creative ideas. This can help every aspect of your life where you need a boost. Dennis van der Meijden, a dutch graphic designer, producer, and rapper, began his journey to try and stoke his creativity with magic mushrooms. He takes a micro-dose twice a week and has seen amazing results. “It sharpens all the senses as if the frequencies of all of your atoms and energy field are raised a little bit and are being slightly more conscious,” says Van Der Meijden. He has enough energy to skip his morning coffee, “as if I’m kicked in some sort of orbit for that day.” If he becomes distracted, “I’m very much aware of that as if seeing myself from a bird’s eye view, so I can correct myself very fast.”

5. Microdosing Psilocybin Helps Treat Anxiety And Depression

Millions of people face anxiety and depression each year and in the USA it is the tenth most common form of death. While prescription drugs can help they take a while to begin to work and then quickly lose their potency. By micro-dosing or even just taking one moderate dose people suffering from mental health issues will see immediate and long-lasting relief. A study done in 2016 observed 29 cancer patients struggling with cancer-related anxiety and depression. They gave them rotating cycles of placebo and psilocybin micro-doses. 80% of the participants showed extreme reductions in anxiety and depression. After 4 years they followed up and found that more than 70% of the group had long-term improvements. Almost all of them attributed it to the study. They claimed it was ‘the most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experience of their lives.”

6. Psilocybin Creates And Connects Brain Cells

Scientists used to believe that adults could no longer create new brain cells. This is normally true but magic mushrooms cause the growth of new brain cells. This has led to researching how they could positively affect people with diseases like Alzheimer’s. Not only does it create new brain cells it also connects activity that wouldn’t normally be attainable. In a study done at King’s College in London, they scanned 15 volunteers’ brains after taking a placebo and after taking psilocybin. There is strong activity in areas of the brain that are not normally connected after taking psilocybin.

Do you have any fun facts about magic mushrooms? Let us know in the comments!

The Nutritional Benefits of Raw Cannabis

Cannabis has continued to grow in popularity exponentially since it was legalized in 2018 and can be found in just about every market from the beauty industry to government-run dispensaries. This big comeback has renewed interest in research which has led to some amazing discoveries about this groovy, green medication. Naturally, most people instantly think of dried, resinous cannabis buds rather than fresh leaves and seeds but with more access to plants in recent years, this may quickly change. Now may be the time to stop thinking of marijuana solely as a medicine but also as a plant-based superfood.

The Health Benefits

New studies have shown that raw cannabis leaves, flowers, and seeds provide almost every nutrient that the human body needs. It’s packed with carbohydrates, fat, water, minerals, fatty acids, fibre, vitamins, calcium, protein, and potassium. I’m not just talking about trace amounts either, many now consider it to be one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. On top of this, when fresh it holds on to most of its terpenes which not only give it taste and flavour but also acts as an antibacterial and anti-fungal.

Terpenes: All plants contain terpenes which are aromatic essential oils. They give each plant and herb their recognizable aroma and taste while supplying medicinal benefits. Different strains will contain different terpenes which bring their own set of healing powers.

Chlorophyll: Is responsible for the bright green colour that pigments all leafy plants. This term may have been something that you learned about in middle school science classes but one thing you may not have known is that it has abundant health benefits. It’s effective at preventing DNA damage, treating inflammation, and may even be able to prevent certain types of cancer.

THCA: Before cannabis is exposed to heat it contains phytocannabinoid-derived acids which have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiemetic properties with none of the intoxicating effects that make you feel “high”. In terms of reducing nausea, it’s believed that THCA may be more potent than its active form THC and can treat vomiting more effectively.

CBDA: This is the cannabinoid acid in raw cannabis that is converted into CBD. It has many of the same properties as its counterpart THCA while containing an important enzyme to reduce inflammation, fights tumours, and battles nausea. There has been ongoing research that suggests that CBDA could be an effective treatment for aggressive breast cancers which, while requiring more research, is a promising option for the quarter of a million women that are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year.

Vitamins, Minerals, and Fibre: Cannabis may be known for its mind-altering effects but it’s also still a leafy green plant with health benefits. These iconic fan leaves contain vitamin k, vitamin c, iron, calcium, folate, and fibre.

Antioxidants: Free radicals are constantly being formed in the body and without the help of antioxidants they would cause serious harm and even death. These free radicals are brought about by air pollution, alcohol, intake, cigarette smoke, and sunbathing and can lead to things like cancer, and blood vessel disease. This is where cannabis can help, providing high levels of antioxidants to keep your body balanced.

Medicinal Uses of Raw Cannabis

We now know that this plant in its raw form is a nutritional powerhouse but it may have other long-lasting benefits to keep your body as healthy as it can be.

Helps Fight Cancer: The National Cancer Institute has released information that cannabis is not only an effective treatment for cancer symptoms like nausea, and pain but can actually be used to fight cancer cells. Clinical studies show that the cannabinoids in these plants can isolate and remove pesky cancer cells.

Relieves Pain: This is true of cannabis no matter how you choose to ingest it but by eating raw cannabis you may be looking at more relief from pain over a longer period of time.

Will You Get High?

If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy the intoxicating effects of THC then eating this leafy green raw might be the best option to harness its many benefits. Before decarboxylation, the cannabis plant contains THCA and CBDA which won’t cause the feeling of being high. This is only true as long as these acids aren’t heated which means there needs to be a bit of care taken while being prepared. Some people think that the heat generated from a centrifugal juicer may be enough to turn the THCA content into THC which could lead to some mindaltering effects.

Dosage

The suggested dose is about 30g of fresh cannabis leaves per day. If you don’t have a scale you can always throw a handful of the raw leaves into smoothies without fear of having any negative or mind-altering effects. If you have had trouble finding a plant to harvest raw leaves from it is possible to ingest raw cannabis flowers. After grinding the flower into a fine powder use 1/16th of a teaspoon and sprinkle onto meals. It is important to note that you may still test positive in a drug test.

How To Prepare Raw Cannabis

The delicious, green leaves of the cannabis plant can be enjoyed the same way as any other leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or Swiss chard. After washing these nutritional greens they can be added to salads, smoothies, garnish, or can be juiced or sautéed with a meal. It’s important to note that marijuana becomes intoxicated when heated to 220 degrees Fahrenheit so a kitchen thermometer is useful if you choose to cook them. The most convenient way to consume this huge amount of nutrients found in the plants is by juicing it. After juicing the raw cannabis it can be added to smoothies or mixed with other fruit juices. To preserve it just add the juice into an ice cube tray and save it for future recipes.

If you are able to get your hands on some raw cannabis it is the perfect addition to a healthy diet. Let us know about your experience with this superfood in the comments.

The Many Benefits of THC

Cannabis has been a controversial topic since the iconic war on drugs of the 1970s. With a huge smear campaign led by bored politicians, the reputation of this leafy green plant was destroyed for decades to follow and biases surround it still today. Although it may seem ridiculous, these men claimed that smoking marijuana led to “reefer madness”, temporary insanity, and could even transform you into a bat. As cannabis is making its way back into the mainstream CBD has been making a splash in everything from cocktails to skincare while THC has remained shrouded in the shadows of mistrust. This groovy molecule is an effective everyday supplement beneficial to overall physical and mental health, read on to find out more about its many medicinal benefits.

What Is THC?

THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that creates the feeling of being “high”. It’s not only the perfect way to unwind after a long day but a natural medicine used by humans throughout the centuries. THC works by attaching itself to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, activating neurons that affect pleasure, memory, thinking, and perception. Due to the stigmatization of THC, there hasn’t been much new research but the anecdotal evidence is full of astounding accounts of how THC has drastically improved mental and physical health for people from all walks of life.

1. Aids With Sleep

If you are one of the many people that have trouble falling asleep and remaining asleep THC could be the solution! Not only will it send you off to dreamland, but THC also helps normalize breathing patterns which can reduce those pesky interruptions to the sleep cycle.

2. Powerful Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation is no laughing matter as it can lead to an excess of other, seemingly unrelated, health issues like depression and arthritis. The dynamic duo, THC and CBD, are there to fight these flareups by reducing the amount of Cytokines the body makes. Cytokines are a large family of molecules that regulate the way the immune system responds to inflammation and infection.

3. Relieves Pain

Everyone experiences aches and pains but for almost 2 million people these unpleasant sensations are chronic. Most chronic pain is nerve-related or neuropathic which is why THC can help. Cannabis activates pathways in the central nervous system that effectively block pain signals from making their way up to the brain. In a 2013 FDA study, researchers gave participants low doses of THC or a placebo. When given THC there was a 30% reduction in pain intensity while the placebo did little to nothing

4. Increases Appetite

Surely at some point you have experienced or witnessed the “munchies” where stoners can’t stop eating and eating and eating. For conditions that cause loss of appetite like HIV, hepatitis, and dementia THC could be the thing standing between the sufferer and severe malnutrition. The hunger-inducing effects of this cannabis compound could dramatically improve quality of life and in some cases, even save lives.

5. Treats PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder affects nearly 25 million people globally which, to put that into perspective, is about the population of Australia. THC treats many of the symptoms caused by this disorder, offering relief from nightmares, insomnia, depression, and flashbacks. Finally managing to get a good night’s rest, it becomes easier to regain balance in all aspects of everyday life. Many scientists even claim that cannabis is the only effective treatment available for PTSD right now.

6. Has Antibacterial Properties

Cannabis plants produce THC to protect themselves from pathogens, a pretty nifty evolutionary feat. This beautiful trait built for preservation makes THC the perfect treatment for antibioticresistant infections in humans and animals. In 2008 researchers at MIT were blown away when THC killed the bacteria MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which leads to serious gaping wounds when pharmaceutical drugs could not.

7. Is an Anti-Convulsant

CBD has stolen the show when it comes to treating seizures but THC shares these same anticonvulsant properties. Studies done in the 1940’s show THC treatment reduced seizures in half of the children studied, all of which were unresponsive to conventional treatments. Working together these cannabis compounds could improve the quality of life for people suffering from epilepsy.

8. Works as A Muscle Relaxant

Certain strains of marijuana, usually indica with hard-hitting body highs, can leave the user feeling sleep and heavy-bodied. This is extremely beneficial for people suffering from muscle spasms, pain, and cramping. Cannabis-based medicines for this act use are already on the market in almost 50 countries and helps thousands of people struggling to live pain-free with conditions like multiple sclerosis.

9, Preserves Youth

Well, it may not keep you young forever but THC is a powerful antioxidant, helping to fight stress and the signs of aging. Cannabis protects the epidermis from UVB light, which is responsible for oxidative stress to the skin, leading to wrinkles and other skin diseases.

10. Slows Down Tumor Growth

This medicinal, green herb has been proven to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. With the incredible anti-cancer power that THC carries, you would be hard-pressed to find someone unwilling to try this natural remedy. Doctors say that THC affects cancer in 3 different ways.

• – Cannabis puts a process called apoptosis into effect which causes the cancer cells to begin to selfdestruct.

“Cannabis does that apoptosis, that horrible word, that tells the cancer cell to go kill itself. It’s literally a key that turns a lock and tells the cell to kill itself.” -Dr. Gregory Smith, Physician

• Cannabinoids block tumors from forming new blood vessels, which essentially cuts the cancer cells off from their food and oxygen supply, starving them to death.
• As if this wasn’t enough to have you loading up your cart full of THC edibles and flowers, it’s known to stop cancer cells from spreading. These diseased cells normally metastasize, Meaning they’ll leave their infected area to branch off and start new unhealthy cell colonies.

Final Thoughts

These are just a small handful of the most researched benefits of THC but as with most things, this is just the tip of the iceberg. With science always developing and pushing boundaries there is such a vast ocean of benefits that come along with utilizing THC in your well-being routine.

What are some benefits to THC you feel we missed? Have you noticed any of these benefits in your life? Comment bellow and let us know what you think!